PDC World Darts Championship final: Anderson defends title v Lewis
Published:
Holly Thackeray | January 3, 2016
Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson
- 2016 PDC World Darts Championship
- Sunday, January 3rd
- Session from: 18:30-21:30 GMT
- Alexandra Palace, London
- Live on Sky Sports Darts and Sky Sports 1
Anderson aiming to retain against Lewis at Ally Pally
Alexandra Palace has once again proven an inspiring oche theatre, as the enthralling 2016 PDC World Darts Championship approaches it’s last day of darting drama. With everything at stake, who will be anointed king in this final clash?
Current world champ Gary Anderson has made an incredibly diligent defence of his title, as he seeks to be only the third to claim this competition twice in a row, with all-time great Phil Taylor and his upcoming opponent the previous PDC arrowsmiths to do so.
Standing in his way, however, is two-time winner Adrian Lewis, who will surely come out all-guns-blazing in this curtain-closing kerfuffle featuring two excellent and in-form rivals.
So, without futher ado, Coral bring you our best bets and final preview, to help customers celebrate and cash-in on a competition that has so far delivered shocks, surprises and stunning matches in spades. We expect the grand finale to prove no less nail-biting!
Duel between darting giants
These final two tungsten titans left standing are certainly deserving of their spots, as both have clocked-up regular averages well above over 100 and demolished fellow dartsmen with deadly displays to reach this stage.
Reining champion Anderson is an odds-on 4/9 favourite for victory, as the second seed looks to repeat his heroics from 2015, when he squeezed past The Power to claim his first world crown.
There is better value to be found in scorelines for The Flying Scotsman, who smashed Jackpot 11-5 in November in the European Championship semis. Anderson, in fact, bolsters his case further with a 27-17 head-to-head record against his English foe, who he has dumped out of all but one of their five majors meetings, including at the last hurdle of the 2014 Players Championship Finals.
The superb Scot should expect a closer challenge this time around though as, until meeting Raymond van Barneveld in the semi-finals, Lewis had lost just two sets across the entire tournament. So, with that in mind, back a close call at 6/1 for the world champion to win 7-5.
Flying Scotsman seeking repeat perfect leg
In more Anderson markets, the world number two is available at truly enticing odds of 9/1 for his second nine-dart finish in as many matches. The Flying Scotsman caused darting delirium with the competition’s first perfect leg as he dismantled Jelle Klaasen 6-0 last time out, and is also joint for highest checkout at 170 so far, which he is also generous at 13/2 to repeat.
One moment Anderson will not want to relive again, however, is the 2011 World Championship final, when fierce competitor Lewis got the rub of the green to edge their encounter 7-5. Though, it may be tempting to then pile the cash on a price of 15/8 for Jackpot to strike it lucky again and seal a third world title, battling Barney and also Peter Wright before him revealed several chinks in the Englishman’s armour, which this opponent can exploit.
Danger at the double
Lewis was missing doubles left, right and centre in the latter stages, meaning a currently formidable Flying Scotsman can pounce, and he makes for a pretty price package at 3/1 to be King of the Oche (player to win match, most 180s and highest checkout. If any of the markets are tied, bets will be settled as losers).
Should you fancy a dabble on the winning double, meanwhile, there have been five triumphant tungsten finishes on 20 (joint-most alongside double 16, all of which were Taylor’s victorious checkouts of choice), including one of Jackpot’s previous. So, why not place a stake of 9/4 for that popular double to win it for either player again?
Related
Dig into our dedicated darts page for all the latest arrowsmith updates.
After the recent nine-darter, check out our feature on the World Darts Championship’s previous perfect legs.
